10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
11 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
9 / 3
Average Mileage:
40,868 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2009 Hyundai Santa Fe engine problems

engine problem

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2009 Hyundai Santa Fe Owner Comments (Page 3 of 3)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #11

Mar 052011

Santa Fe

  • 13,187 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

This morning on my way to work, I accelerated to pass a vehicle making a left turn off the highway, and when I passed said vehicle and took my foot off the gas, it did not slow down. The pedal remained stuck to the floor and I had to force the brakes through the floor to get it to stop. It was still revving madly. I put the car in neutral and it sounded like it was going to explode it was revving so hard. I stomped on the accelerator pedal while in neutral, hard, 3 times and it popped back up and became unstuck. I am 4 months pregnant and am deathly afraid of driving this vehicle. This is the first time this has ever happened to me in this vehicle, but more testimony can be found @ townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.F1F4E72/79.

- Napa, CA, USA

problem #10

Mar 052011

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • 19,448 miles
I just had my 2009 Santa Fe start accelerating out of control. I was going towards a light and hit the gas hard. After speeding up, I let go of the accelerator and the car continued to accelerate. I had to hit the brakes to slow but as soon as I released the brake the acceleration continued. I went threw this process 3 times in a matter of seconds. So, I popped into neutral and the engine revved up wildly. I then braked and put it into drive. It returned to normal operation. I'm contacted the dealer right now.

- Naperville, IL, USA

problem #9

Dec 182010

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • 12,225 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe. While driving approximately 5 mph and entering a parking space, there was an unexpected increase in engine rpms as the vehicle abnormally accelerated rapidly. The contact applied the brakes immediately to avoid crashing into another vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer where they were unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 12,225. Updated 3/21/11 updated 04/28/11

- Naples , FL, USA

problem #8

Dec 212010

Santa Fe

  • 20,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe. While driving approximately 65 mph, the vehicle stopped accelerating suddenly. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The technicians replaced the accelerator computer module. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 20,000.

- Greenville, SC, USA

problem #7

Dec 172010

Santa Fe

  • 12,650 miles
While turning the steering wheel of my SUV to pull into a parking space in a large grocery store parking lot, the SUV involuntarily accelerated forward at a great amount of speed. I applied the brake firmly, but the SUV continued to speed forward into the parking space. My fear was that there was a car immediately in front of me that was parked facing in. I assumed that the only way I was going to stop was if I crashed head on with the car opposite me. Fortunately, I had the brake almost to the floor of the SUV when it finally lurched to a stop. I then called the dealership who sent a tow truck to pick up the vehicle. It has been at the dealership since approximately 4:30 P.M. on Friday, December 17, 2010. The dealership said they would look at it today, Monday, December 20. I have yet to hear from them this morning.

- Naples, FL, USA

problem #6

Nov 202010

Santa Fe

  • 21,930 miles
While getting onto the highway from the on ramp the car began to accelerate on its own. The gas pedal began to depress itself without me doing it. The cruise control was not engaged and the floor matt was not the cause. Braking was difficult and the engine continued to rev. I pulled off the highway and stopped the engine. After telling my family about the incident my daughter told me that it had occurred twice before in the same manner about 2 months ago.

- Kingston, PA, USA

problem #5

Jun 012010

Santa Fe

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Purchased 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe from herrnsteins Hyundai of chillicothe, oh. In January 2010. On two separate occasions; once in March, and once in June on 315 columbus, Ohio. The first time it over accelerated I was attempting to pass another vehicle. I accelerated to pass and then was attempting to slow back down when I heard the engine rev and felt the vehicle speed up. I do not and did not use the cruise control. The breaks only slowed the vehicle I could not get it stopped. I did manage to shift into neutral and as the engine continued to rev, I turned the vehicle off. Upon restarting it was ok. The second time I was accelerating to merge, upon completion of the merge I attempted to let off the accelerator and slow down. Again the engine revved, and I felt the vehicle speeding up. I applied breaks forcefully like before the vehicle slowed a bit but sped back up I continued to break using both feet and the vehicle slowed and was then ok. We reported this to the dealership each time it occurred. Their response was that it did not show a code. After the second event herrnsteins has shown concern and realizes their is a problem. However the hyuandi Corp. Has taken the stance with us that they do not have a problem with sua in their vehicles and that ours is safe to drive. I suppose because I did not get killed or kill someone else that I can not prove it happened.

- Piketon, OH, USA

problem #4

May 292010

Santa Fe

  • 10,000 miles
While pulling into head-in parking space, 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe suddenly accelerated. Hit a concrete wall, causing significant radiator and fender damage (estimated total repair costs over $8000). Driver suffered scrapes and bruises on neck/chest from seatbelt/steering wheel, bruising on knee, and head pain. Child in rear booster seat suffers neck pain. Air bag did not deploy.

- Aurora, CO, USA

problem #3

Apr 022010

Santa Fe

  • 6,700 miles
Stopped at red lite give the car gas and the engine revs up and takes off had to put it in neutral move to shoulder waited a few moments restarted car and everything was fine. Very unnerving hope it never happens again. 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe I find out that this is called sudden unintended acceleration and I am not alone with this problem..happen with only 6700 miles on SUV will be taking to dealer for 7500 mile checkup and want him to document this for my records on this SUV.

- Timonium, MD, USA

problem #2

Feb 032010

Santa Fe

  • 6,000 miles
Unexplained acceleration between 30 and 35 mph. There was no floor mat interference and could not duplicate the error today. This was the first occurrence.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

problem #1

Dec 122009

Santa Fe

  • 20,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe. While driving between 75-80 mph the vehicle began to accelerate without intention. Even after repeated brake application the vehicle would not decelerate. He had to shift the vehicle into neutral to decelerate. 5 days prior to the failure the vehicle accelerated while driving between 25-35 mph in heavy traffic. There was not interference between the floor mat and the accelerator pedal. The technician have inspected the vehicle, but could not determine the cause of the failure. The failure mileage was 20,000.

- Colorado Springs , CO, USA

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